Multiple Academic Pathways for Mechatronics Technicians

该项目解决了国家对机电一体化先进制造领域熟练技术人员的需求。 该领域的技术人员实施和维护用于控制制造系统的机械设备，电子设备和软件的集成系统。为了满足行业对机电一体化技术人员的需求，该项目将为学生提供多种学术途径，以追求机电一体化教育。 将开发途径，为需要提高技能的在职工人、就读学位课程的学生和拥有一些大学学分的成人学习者提供服务。 学术课程将包括一个综合的就业技能课程，改编自必要的技能现在网络，ATE协调网络。 这种方法旨在支持学生在工作中取得成功。该项目的目标是缩小制造业技能差距，特别是在佛罗里达中部地区。工程技术佛罗里达课程框架的最佳实践将被调整，以创建机电一体化的可堆叠微证书计划，每个证书需要不到12个学分。 将软技能融入机电一体化计划将有助于确保学生拥有在工作中取得长期成功和职业发展所需的技能。 该项目将升级机电一体化实验室的设备，以便学生可以在工作场所遇到的系统上接受培训。 除了需要训练有素的机电一体化技术人员外，工业还迫切需要更多的这些熟练技术人员。 为此，该项目的招聘活动将包括关注成年学生谁可以完成一个或多个培训途径，并表现良好的机电一体化技术人员的职位。 这些人可以扩大机电一体化劳动力的参与。 该项目由先进技术教育计划资助，该计划侧重于为推动国家经济的先进技术领域培养技术人员。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

This project addresses a national need for skilled technicians in the advanced manufacturing field of mechatronics. Technicians in this field implement and maintain integrated systems of mechanical devices, electronics, and software that are used to control manufacturing systems. To help meet industry demand for mechatronics technicians, this project will develop multiple academic pathways for students to pursue mechatronics education. Pathways will be developed to will serve incumbent workers in need of upskilling, students enrolled in a degree program, and adult learners who have some college credits. The academic programs will include an integrated employability skills curriculum, adapted from the Necessary Skills Now Network, an ATE Coordination Network. This approach will be designed to support student success on the job. The goal of this project is to close the manufacturing skills gap, particularly in the central Florida region. Best practices of the Florida Curriculum Frameworks in Engineering Technology will be adapted to create stackable micro-credential programs in mechatronics, with each credential requiring less than 12 credit hours. The integration of soft skills into the mechatronics program will help ensure that the students have the skills needed for long term success on the job and advancement in their careers. The project will upgrade equipment in mechatronics labs so that students can be trained on systems that they will encounter in the workplace. In addition to needing well-trained mechatronics technicians, industry also has a critical need for a greater number of these skilled technicians. To this end, the project’s recruiting activities will include a focus on adult students who could complete one or more of the training pathways and perform well in mechatronics technician positions. Such individuals can broaden participation in the mechatronics workforce. This project is funded by the Advanced Technological Education program that focuses on the education of technicians for the advanced-technology fields that drive the nation's economy.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.